occupational therapy-technologies for learning

Blogs: promoting competence in undergraduate occupational

therapy studentsHelen Buchanan

University of Cape Town, Dept. of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences

BackgroundO 3rd year occupational therapy courseO 4 lecturers; approximately 50

studentsO Teaching schedule & preparation for

lecturesO Learning management system - VulaO Self-directed learningO Practice learning challenges

Exploring what was needed

O Google survey - students and lecturersO Discussion with small groups of studentsO Discussion with lecturersO Identify outcomeO Literature:

O Technologies used in Occupational Therapy

O Blogs vs face bookO Identify challenges, e.g. available any

time, ease of access, etc

LiteratureO OT - e-learning can enhance

interaction (Hollis & Madill, 2006)

O Facebook – limited file format & not organized in a threaded structure (Wang et al, 2012)

Design & developmentO Affordances of Blogs:

O Peer support and learning (Wiid et al, 2013)

O Develop a range of cognitive, social and self-directed learning skills (Deng & Yuen, 2011; Robertson, 2011)

O Opportunities for discovery and self-directed learning (Dabbagh & Bannan-Ritland, 2005)

O Link with existing LMS (Vula)O Topics in curriculum

Formative evaluation of activity

O Discussion with students – modalities where resources are needed

O LecturersO CHECET small group meetings and

feedback

ConclusionO Blog broadens current repertoire of

teaching and learning opportunities available

O Ideal for providing additional resources for students to consult during practice learning

RecommendationsO Feedback from presentation &

technology expert O Get lecturer participation O Expand current videos available O Promote to 3rd year students to

encourage participationO Monitor student comments O Consider incorporating group work O Feedback on participation in practice

learning evaluation reports

References

O Dabbagh N, Bannan-Ritland B (2005). Instructional strategies that support constructivist-based pedagogical models. Adapted for ICT CHEC course, May 2005, pp. 206-227.

O Deng L, Yuen A (2011). Towards a framework for educational affordances of blogs. Computers & Education, 56, 441-451.

O Hollis V, Madill H (2006). Online learning: the potential for occupational therapy education. Occupational Therapy International, 13(2): 61-78.

O Robertson J (2011). The educational affordances of blogs for self-directed learning. Computers & Education, 57: 1628-1644.

O Wang Q, Woo H, Quek C, Yang Y, Liu M (2012). Using the Facebook group as a learning management system: an exploratory study. British Journal of Educational Technology, 43(3): 428-438.

O Wiid C, McCormack C, Warren A, Buckley S, Cahill M (2013). Public and private blogging during placements: perspectives of occupational therapy students. International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation 20(2): 79-85.